Spurs backing nonbias proposal

Updated 11:12 pm, Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The Rev. Erika Forbes of Awakening Spiritual Community joins other clergy at City Hall in support of the ordinance.

The Rev. Erika Forbes of Awakening Spiritual Community joins other clergy at City Hall in support of the ordinance.

Photo: Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

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MacArthur Park Luther Church Rev. Paul Ziese prays with other clergy as they gather in front of City Hall in support of the proposed nondiscrimination ordinance, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. The City Council is expected to hear public comments Wednesday afternoon and will vote on the ordinance on Thursday. less

MacArthur Park Luther Church Rev. Paul Ziese prays with other clergy as they gather in front of City Hall in support of the proposed nondiscrimination ordinance, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. The City Council is ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Clergy and others gather in support of the proposed nondiscrimination ordinance during a press conference in front of City Hall, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. The City Council is expected to hear public comments Wednesday afternoon and will vote on the ordinance on Thursday. less

Clergy and others gather in support of the proposed nondiscrimination ordinance during a press conference in front of City Hall, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. The City Council is expected to hear public comments ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Spurs backing nonbias proposal

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The Spurs have joined those speaking out in support of adding protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity to the city's nondiscrimination policies.

A majority of the City Council has declared support for the ordinance. The council will hear public comment Wednesday and before taking a vote Thursday.

In the letter addressed to Castro, Rick Pych, president of business operations for Spurs Sports & Entertainment, offers his organization's support.

“SS&E and the NBA have historically been leaders in diversity and nondiscrimination,” Pych wrote. “SS&E has demonstrated a commitment to fair employment practices, which has resulted in a diverse workforce in our multicultural community.”

The letter is dated Aug. 22. The mayor didn't make it public until he shared it Tuesday with the San Antonio Express-News.

Castro said he's pleased to see support from the business community, which includes the Spurs franchise.

The Spurs' letter predates an Aug. 28 tweet from Silver Stars forward Sophia Young, in which she says she opposes same-sex marriage and urges the council to vote down the proposal. The ordinance, however, doesn't address same-sex marriage.

A Silver Stars spokesman declined to comment about Young's tweet.

The Spurs' stance is consistent with the NBA's nondiscrimination policy that was put into place in 2011, according to news reports. Sexual orientation was added to the league's nondiscrimination policy though collective bargaining in 2011.

The NBA fined Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant $100,000 that year after an outburst using gay slurs about a referee's call. He since has become an advocate for LGBT issues.

Meanwhile, letters in support and opposition continue to arrive at City Hall.

“Because the Jewish people have suffered oppression and discrimination, ... Jews have often been on the forefront of leading efforts to fight intolerance,” the CRC letter states.

The ordinance, the group wrote, doesn't require an abandonment of Jewish faith and principles.

“Rather, it is our very principles which encourage us to support this piece of legislation ... to ensure that the LGBT members of our synagogues, our neighbors, family and relatives, and the San Antonio community at large, are treated with the same dignity and respect we demand for ourselves,” the letter said.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, sent a letter of support to Bernal. In it, he wrote that state and federal failure to address nondiscrimination makes the councilman's efforts all the more important.

“Some of the recent comments made in opposition to you demonstrate why prompt action is necessary,” Doggett wrote.

Others have expressed concerns about the repercussions of the proposal.

The Liberty Institute, a Plano-based law firm “dedicated solely to protecting religious liberty,” has threatened to sue the city if the ordinance is approved.

The firm sent a letter to city officials Tuesday, asserting that while language has been added to the proposal stating it doesn't require any person or organization to support or advocate a particular lifestyle or religious view, “the remainder of the proposed ordinance does just that.”

For example, the letter contends that churches with religious objections to hiring homosexual employees will be required to do so.

Meanwhile, Councilwoman Elisa Chan sent a newsletter to her constituents, saying the process surrounding consideration of the proposal is a failed one.

“Clearly the process does not provide enough time for public comment, deliberation or comprehension,” she wrote. “If the goal of City Council is to keep the citizens of San Antonio informed of their actions, we have failed.”

The council already has listened to several hours of public input across several days and will likely listen to hundreds more speakers before taking its vote Thursday.